Rice University
Rice University is a university that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
Nontraditional water sources made viable through membrane design
As climate change and population growth place mounting pressure on global water resources, communities around the world are seeking sustainable ways to reclaim water from nontraditional sources such as stormwater, agricultural runoff and municipal wastewater. A team of researchers led by Menachem Elimelech and his former postdoctoral researcher Yanghua Duan at Rice University has taken […]
Engineers tackle sunlight intermittency in solar desalination
Scalable, low-maintenance design recycles heat for a steady supply of drinking water off grid.
Researchers propose roadmap to advance catalytic solutions to destroy “forever chemicals”
A team of researchers from Rice University, Carnegie Mellon University and other leading global institutions has outlined a bold new roadmap for harnessing heterogeneous catalysis to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the so-called "forever chemicals" that have contaminated water supplies worldwide. In an article published in Nature Water, the international team of environmental engineers, chemists and catalysis […]
“Reducing chemical usage is critical for minimizing the environmental impact of desalination”
A new research innovation offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical treatments, addressing boron contamination that exceeds safe drinking water limits set by the World Health Organization. To gain deeper insights into this pioneering research and its broader contributions to the field, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Menachem Elimelech, […]
New method eliminates PFAS from water systems and transforms waste into high-value graphene
Rice University researchers have developed an innovative solution to a pressing environmental challenge: removing and destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called “forever chemicals.” A study led by James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Phelecia Scotland unveils a method that not only eliminates […]
Scientists create tiny, water-based reactors for green chemistry
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method for performing chemical reactions using water instead of toxic solvents. The scientists created microscopic reactors capable of driving light-powered chemical processes by designing metal complex surfactants (MeCSs) that self-assemble into nanoscale spheres called micelles. This innovation could drastically reduce pollution in industries including pharmaceuticals and materials […]
Ancient Mars’ thick crust may have held hidden water and rare magmas
A new study explores how variations in Mars' crustal thickness during its ancient history may have influenced the planet's magmatic evolution and hydrological systems. The research, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, suggests that the thick crust of Mars' southern highlands formed billions of years ago generated granitic magmas and sustained vast underground aquifers, challenging long-held […]
New synthesis strategy could speed up PFAS decontamination
Rice University engineers have developed an innovative way to make covalent organic frameworks (COFs), special materials that can be used to trap gases, filter water and speed up chemical reactions. COFs have the potential to address significant environmental challenges, including energy storage and pollution control. An example of that is their potential use in the […]
New reactor system could decarbonize ammonia production, treat nitrate-contaminated water
Ammonia plays a critical role in sustaining food production for the world’s growing population, but making it accounts for about 2% of global energy consumption and 1.4% of carbon dioxide emissions. Rice University engineers have developed a revolutionary reactor design that could decarbonize ammonia production while also mitigating water pollution. In a study published in Nature Catalysis, a team of […]